Exploring Nuclear Energy
Nuclear Fusion and Fission
 Nuclear Fusion
• Small nuclei into large
• Immense temperature
and pressure
• Core of stars
 Nuclear Fission
• Large nuclei into small
• Critical mass to
sustain
• Two isotopes we use
U
235
Pu
239
Iron is the “dead end” of both fusion and fission – it is
the lowest energy nucleus and cannot be split or fused.
Global Total Primary Energy Supply,
2012
Nuclear provides about 5% of total energy and 10.8% of global electricity generation.
Natural Gas
21.27%
Petroleum
31.45%
Data: International Energy Agency
Coal
29.01%
Nuclear
4.80%
Hydropower
2.36%
Geothermal,
Biofuels Solar, etc.
and Waste 1.06%
10.05%
Top 10 Nuclear Generating Countries, 2013
800
Billion kiloWatt-hours
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Data: Energy Information Administration
U.S. Primary Energy Consumption
Source and Sector, 2012 (Quadrillion Btu)
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Data: Energy Information Administration
U.S. Electricity Production 2012
Petroleum
0.57%
Nuclear
19.01%
Hydroelectric
6.70%
Geothermal
0.38%
Solar
0.11%
Other
0.63%
Biomass
1.42%
Wind
3.48%
Natural Gas
30.29%
Data provided by US EIA Net Generation by Energy Source
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Coal
37.40%
U.S. Electricity Flow
U.S. Electricity Flow, 2012
(Quadrillion Btu)
Data: Energy Information Administration
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Nuclear Energy Production
Percent of Electricity Generated by
Nuclear Power
• VT – 70.0%
• MN – 20.9%
• SC – 57.2%
• MS – 20.5%
• NH – 55.2%
• AR – 19.7%
• NJ – 51.5%
• NE – 18.5%
• CT – 48.2%
• WI – 17.8%
• IL – 47.9%
• LA – 16.7%
• MD – 40.2%
• KS – 14.7%
• VA – 38.0%
• MA – 12.8%
• TN – 36.2%
• FL – 12.1%
• PA – 34.6%
• OH – 11.8%
• NY – 33.1%
• IA – 9.4%
• NC – 32.2%
• MO – 9.1%
• AZ – 28.5%
• CA – 9.0%
• MI – 27.6%
• TX – 8.8%
• GA – 27.2%
• WA – 7.5%
• AL – 27.1%
Data: Nuclear Energy Institute
Anatomy of a Nuclear Power Plant
Source: NRC
Anatomy of a Nuclear Power Plant
Source: NRC
Advantages of Nuclear Power
 Clean
 Plentiful Supply
 High energy content in uranium
• Small fuel pellet
• Can provide base load power
• Energy savings in transportation
 Operating cost is low after construction
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Drawbacks to Using Nuclear Power





Initial construction costs
Radioactive waste byproduct
Storage
Natural disasters
Public perception
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New Nuclear Technologies
 Modular, small-scale reactors
 Breeder reactors
 http://www.energy.gov/science-innovation/energysources/nuclear
Image courtesy of Department of Energy
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Food for thought…
Of the 15 methods (wedges) proposed by a Princeton University
study to stabilize Carbon Dioxide emissions, 13 of them relate
energy use. Implementation of any 7 would accomplish the goal
of stabilizing emissions.
1. Efficient vehicles
2. Reduced use of vehicles
3. Efficient buildings
4. Efficient coal power plants
5. Gas instead of coal power plants
6. Capture CO2 at base load power plant
7. Nuclear power for coal power
8. Wind power for coal power
9. Photovoltaic power for coal power
10. Capture CO2 at H2 plant
11. Capture CO2 at coal-to-synfuels plant
12. Wind H2 in fuel-cell car for gasoline in hybrid car
13. Biomass fuel for fossil fuel
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For More Information
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www.need.org
info@need.org
1-800-875-5029
Energy Information Administration
U.S. Department of Energy
www.eia.gov
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